8909615

System and Method of Managing Capacity of Search Index Partitions

PublishedDecember 9, 2014
Assigneenot available in USPTO data we have
Technical Abstract

Patent Claims
20 claims

Legal claims defining the scope of protection. Each claim is shown in both the original legal language and a plain English translation.

Claim 1

Original Legal Text

1. A computerized search system, comprising: a search engine communicatively connected to a client device over a physical connection; a processor; and a storage unit coupled to the processor and storing a search index and instructions, wherein the instructions when translated by the processor cause the search engine to perform: when a capacity utilization of a partition in the search index is under a first threshold: allowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the first threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; and when the capacity utilization of the partition is above a second threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; allowing any existing object in the partition to be deleted; and moving any existing object in the partition that is subject to an update to another partition in the search index along with an indexing request.

Plain English Translation

A search system manages a search index by dividing it into partitions. Each partition has two capacity thresholds. Below the first threshold, the system allows adding new objects and updating/deleting existing ones. Above the first threshold, the system only allows updating/deleting existing objects, preventing new objects from being added. If a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, new objects are still blocked, and updates to existing objects trigger the object (along with an indexing request) to be moved to another partition. The system connects to client devices over a physical connection.

Claim 2

Original Legal Text

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the indexing request is generated by a partition manager based on the update associated with the existing object.

Plain English Translation

The search system described above includes a partition manager component. When an existing object in a partition exceeding the second capacity threshold needs to be updated, the partition manager generates an indexing request based on the update. This indexing request, along with the updated object, is then used to move the object to another partition, rebalancing the search index.

Claim 3

Original Legal Text

3. The system of claim 2 , wherein the moving is automatically and proactively performed by the partition manager when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the search system with the partition manager described above, when a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, the partition manager automatically and proactively moves existing objects that are subject to an update to a different partition. This proactive rebalancing happens without waiting for a new indexing request.

Claim 4

Original Legal Text

4. The system of claim 2 , wherein the moving is performed by the partition manager in response to another indexing request received at the partition manager.

Plain English Translation

In the search system with the partition manager described above, the partition manager only moves an object to another partition when it receives a separate, new indexing request. Even if a partition's capacity is above the second threshold, the system waits for a new indexing request before moving the object.

Claim 5

Original Legal Text

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from an Add mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the first threshold; and changing from the Update mode to a Rebalancing mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

The search system described above operates in different modes based on partition capacity. When a partition's utilization reaches the first threshold, the system switches from an "Add" mode (where new objects can be added) to an "Update" mode (where new object additions are blocked). When the utilization reaches the second threshold, the system switches from the "Update" mode to a "Rebalancing" mode, moving objects to other partitions upon update.

Claim 6

Original Legal Text

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from an Update mode to an Add mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below the first threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the search system described above, the system switches from the "Update" mode back to the "Add" mode when a partition's capacity utilization drops below the first threshold. This allows the partition to accept new objects again.

Claim 7

Original Legal Text

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from a Rebalancing mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the search system described above, the system changes from the "Rebalancing" mode back to the "Update" mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold. This third threshold is lower than the second threshold, effectively hysteresis.

Claim 8

Original Legal Text

8. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer readable medium storing instructions translatable by a processor, wherein the instructions when translated by the processor cause a search engine to perform: when a capacity utilization of a partition in a search index is under a first threshold: allowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the first threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; and when the capacity utilization of the partition is above a second threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; allowing any existing object in the partition to be deleted; and moving any existing object in the partition that is subject to an update to another partition in the search index along with an indexing request, the search index being connected to the search engine, the search engine being communicatively connected to a client device over a physical connection.

Plain English Translation

A computer program stored on a non-transitory medium manages a search index by dividing it into partitions. Each partition has two capacity thresholds. Below the first threshold, the program allows adding new objects and updating/deleting existing ones. Above the first threshold, the program only allows updating/deleting existing objects, preventing new objects from being added. If a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, new objects are still blocked, and updates to existing objects trigger the object (along with an indexing request) to be moved to another partition. The search index connects to the search engine, which is connected to a client device.

Claim 9

Original Legal Text

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the indexing request is generated by a partition manager based on the update associated with the existing object.

Plain English Translation

The computer program described above includes a partition manager component. When an existing object in a partition exceeding the second capacity threshold needs to be updated, the partition manager generates an indexing request based on the update. This indexing request, along with the updated object, is then used to move the object to another partition, rebalancing the search index.

Claim 10

Original Legal Text

10. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the moving is automatically and proactively performed by the partition manager when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the computer program with the partition manager described above, when a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, the partition manager automatically and proactively moves existing objects that are subject to an update to a different partition. This proactive rebalancing happens without waiting for a new indexing request.

Claim 11

Original Legal Text

11. The computer program product of claim 9 , wherein the moving is performed by the partition manager in response to another indexing request received at the partition manager.

Plain English Translation

In the computer program with the partition manager described above, the partition manager only moves an object to another partition when it receives a separate, new indexing request. Even if a partition's capacity is above the second threshold, the system waits for a new indexing request before moving the object.

Claim 12

Original Legal Text

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from an Add mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the first threshold; and changing from the Update mode to a Rebalancing mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

The computer program described above operates in different modes based on partition capacity. When a partition's utilization reaches the first threshold, the system switches from an "Add" mode (where new objects can be added) to an "Update" mode (where new object additions are blocked). When the utilization reaches the second threshold, the system switches from the "Update" mode to a "Rebalancing" mode, moving objects to other partitions upon update.

Claim 13

Original Legal Text

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from an Update mode to an Add mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below the first threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the computer program described above, the system switches from the "Update" mode back to the "Add" mode when a partition's capacity utilization drops below the first threshold. This allows the partition to accept new objects again.

Claim 14

Original Legal Text

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the instructions when translated by the processor further cause the search engine to perform: changing from a Rebalancing mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the computer program described above, the system changes from the "Rebalancing" mode back to the "Update" mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold. This third threshold is lower than the second threshold, effectively hysteresis.

Claim 15

Original Legal Text

15. A method for managing partitions in a computerized search system, the method performed by a search engine embodied on at least one non-transitory computer readable medium including instructions translable by a processor, the method comprising: when a capacity utilization of a partition in a search index is under a first threshold: allowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the first threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; and allowing any existing object in the partition to be updated or deleted; and when the capacity utilization of the partition is above a second threshold: disallowing any object to be added to the partition; allowing any existing object in the partition to be deleted; and moving any existing object in the partition that is subject to an update to another partition in the search index along with an indexing request, the search index being connected to the search engine, the search engine being communicatively connected to a client device over a physical connection.

Plain English Translation

A method for managing partitions in a search system comprises: dividing a search index into partitions, each with two capacity thresholds. Below the first threshold, the system allows adding new objects and updating/deleting existing ones. Above the first threshold, the system only allows updating/deleting existing objects, preventing new objects from being added. If a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, new objects are still blocked, and updates to existing objects trigger the object (along with an indexing request) to be moved to another partition. The search index connects to the search engine, which is connected to a client device.

Claim 16

Original Legal Text

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the indexing request is generated by a partition manager based on the update associated with the existing object.

Plain English Translation

The partition management method described above includes a partition manager component. When an existing object in a partition exceeding the second capacity threshold needs to be updated, the partition manager generates an indexing request based on the update. This indexing request, along with the updated object, is then used to move the object to another partition, rebalancing the search index.

Claim 17

Original Legal Text

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the moving is automatically and proactively performed by the partition manager when the capacity utilization of the partition is above the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

In the partition management method with the partition manager described above, when a partition's capacity goes above the second threshold, the partition manager automatically and proactively moves existing objects that are subject to an update to a different partition. This proactive rebalancing happens without waiting for a new indexing request.

Claim 18

Original Legal Text

18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the moving is performed by the partition manager in response to another indexing request received at the partition manager.

Plain English Translation

In the partition management method with the partition manager described above, the partition manager only moves an object to another partition when it receives a separate, new indexing request. Even if a partition's capacity is above the second threshold, the system waits for a new indexing request before moving the object.

Claim 19

Original Legal Text

19. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: changing from an Add mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the first threshold; and changing from the Update mode to a Rebalancing mode when the capacity utilization of the partition meets or exceeds the second threshold.

Plain English Translation

The partition management method described above includes operating in different modes based on partition capacity. When a partition's utilization reaches the first threshold, the system switches from an "Add" mode (where new objects can be added) to an "Update" mode (where new object additions are blocked). When the utilization reaches the second threshold, the system switches from the "Update" mode to a "Rebalancing" mode, moving objects to other partitions upon update.

Claim 20

Original Legal Text

20. The method of claim 15 , further comprising: changing from a Rebalancing mode to an Update mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold.

Plain English Translation

The partition management method described above includes changing from the "Rebalancing" mode back to the "Update" mode when the capacity utilization of the partition drops below a third threshold. This third threshold is lower than the second threshold, effectively hysteresis.

Patent Metadata

Filing Date

Unknown

Publication Date

December 9, 2014

Inventors

Patrick Thomas Sidney Pidduck
Aleksandra Czarlinska

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Cite as: Patentable. “SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING CAPACITY OF SEARCH INDEX PARTITIONS” (8909615). https://patentable.app/patents/8909615

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SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MANAGING CAPACITY OF SEARCH INDEX PARTITIONS